Thermal switch and relay



Nov. 13, 1945. J. SCHMIDINGER THERMAL SWITCH AND RELAY Original Filed Aug. 11, 1959 I INVENTOR JOSEPH SCHMIDINGER ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THERMAL SWITCH AND RELAY Joseph Schmidlnger, Lake George, N. Y.

- Original application August 11, 1939, Serial No. 289,529. Divided and this application April 20, 1942, Serial No. 439,740

' 18 Claims. (cram-131) This invention relates to thermally controlled or operated switches.

'- with one embodiment of my invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch unit;

Fig, 3 is a sectional view along the line 3--3 of Fig- 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and the casing;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2 and the casing;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a switch unit part.

Referring to Fig. 1 I have shown diagrammatically a fluorescent tube lamp I of the type which has now gone into commercial use, whose circuit embodies a condenser 2 and a choke coil 3,

' the condenser being connected between the filament electrodes and the coil being connected in series with the tube, the electric supply line being indicated at 4.- In the particular embodiment shown, at starting or upon initial closure of the switch the condenser 2 is short circuited, and when the shunt or short circuit across the condenser 2 is quickly opened afterthe heating of the filaments the surge produced tends to assist in starting the discharg for the normal lighting operation of the lamp. The thermal switch unit 5 functions thus quickly to open the shunt across the condenser at starting with no or a minimum of make and break contacts at such operation, a minimum of surges and with the speed desired in practice.

The switch unit 5 comprises a pair of terminals 6', 1' connected by the lines indicated to the opposite sides of the condenser 2 and a second pair of terminals 8' and 9' for connecting the unit in the circuit. The terminals 6' and I lead respectively to contacts In and H which are closed when the line circuit is open. The contact In is carried by a lug l2 which is stamped from a sheet metal piece 8 from which the terminal 6' is integrally formed. The contact H is carried by a buckled and constrained strip or vane l3 which is fastened at its ends to a sheet metal piece 1. In the mounting of this buckled strip 3 upon the sheet metal piece 1 it is put under constraint so as to tend to separate the contact ll from the contact In, and an expansible wire I4 is attached to the vane I3, as for example through the angle piece l5 which is fastened to the vane l3 adjacent one end there of, was to oppose and overcome the tendency of the vane I3 to withdraw the contact II. The wire I4 passes through an eyelet of the angle piece I5 and has fixed thereto a glass bead l6 resting in the eyelet and the vane is preferably reduced in width as indicated at I3, as set forth in the above patent.

The frameor mount for this switch comprises a multiplicity of fiat metallic plate members I,

6, 9 and 8 with interposed fiat insulating sheet or plate members I1 and I8. The insulating plate member I1 is interposed between the metallic plate I on the one hand and the plates 6 and 9 on the other and the insulating plate I8 is inter- 26 posed between the metallic plates 6 and 8. All

these plates are clamped together by the pairs of lugs 20 and 2| formed on the sides of the plate I which lugs are first bent at right angles to the plate I and then after the assembly of the plates together they are crimped around underneath in the form of Us to firmly hold the plates against lateral separation. The insulating plate H is similarly formed'wlth pairs of lugs 20' and 2| and the plate I1 is slightly narrower than the plate I so as to nest therein with the lugs Zn and 2| being disposed on the outside of the lugs 20' and 2|. When the lugs 20 and 2| are crimped or folded under to hold the other plates firmly against the plate I? the lugs 20' and 2| are similarly crirnped or folded under, the lugs 20' being disposed between the plate 3 and the lugs 20 of plate I and the lugs 2| engaging the under side of the plate 8 and there held by the lugs 2|. The plate I is provided with down turned edges 22 disposed between the lugs 20 and 2| and the insulating plate I1 is provided with a similar turned down edge 22. The plates 6 and 9 nest in between the down turned edges 22' of the plates H.

The insulating plate I1 is provided with an elongated upstanding lug '24 at one end and an angle arm 25 is formed on the end of this lug, this angle arm 25 having a notch 25 for the reception of the wire |4 leading from the bead IS. The wire is then carried back and electrically welded or otherwise fastened to an upstanding lug 28 which is formed integrally with the plate 8. The other end of the wire Hi is fastened to a small rotary shaft or pin 2'! which is mounted for rotary adjustable movement in a bearing member 28 formed integrally with the plate 9, this bearing member 28 being formed by upsetting the end of the plate 9 90 and then bending, the top back upon itself to form an eyelet 28' for the reception of the adjustable pin 2? tin a tight frictional grip against turning in response to wire tension. This pin or shaft is rotated for adjusting the tension of the wire it, the adjustment being conveniently effected by engaging the right angle end 21' of the pin 21 by means of any convenient tool. The bearing member 28 projects up through a notched or cut-out portion 30 formed in the end of the insulating plate H, the bottom of this notch projecting out beyond the end of the' plate I so as to space the bearing 28 from the plate '3. The lug 26 in the assembled position engages the elongated lug 24 of the insulating plate ii. The plate 6 is provided with a cut-out portion SE at its inner end and the lug [2 projects outwardly through this notch or cut-out 3!, the lug l2 having its inner portion reduced in width as indicated at 3'2. The lug I2 is also provided with a downturned end 12' with an opening 33 therethrough for facilitating the adjustment of the contact l8. This may be adjusted by the use of any suitable tool for engaging and bending thelug l2. The plate 9 is also formed with a notch or cut-out portion 3H for clearing the lug l2 and the plates 1 and I! are provided with central rectangular openings 35 for accommodating the lug l2 and vane l3 and their contacts iii 1 and ii.

After the switch structural elements are as sembled, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the whole unit may be positioned in a suitable container such as the insulating carton 35, with the terminals 6', i, 8' and 9' projecting out through openings formed in the covers 36' thereof. After such assembly the terminal 6', l, 8 and 9' may be bent over at right angles as indicated in Fig.

1 in which position they hold the covers 35' in closed relation on the carton.

I claim:

1. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured fiat against each other, one of said metallic plates carrying a vane type switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, certain of said metallic plates carrying circuit terminals for connecting the switch unit in circuit and certain of said plates having lugs folded under against the bottom plate to hold the plates tightly against each other.

2. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured fiat against each other, one of said metallic plates carrying a vane type switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, and an expansible wire mechanically fastened to but insulated from said vane for operating said vane from one position to another, said wire being electrically and mechanically connected to a metallic plate which is insulated from the plates carrying the vane switch contacts.

3. A switch unit ofthe character set forth comprising four metallic plate members, the second and third plate members being disposed in the same plane and spaced from the first plate member by an insulating plate, and a second insulating plate member disposed between the second metallic plate member and the fourth metallic plate member, the said plate members being secured flat against each other and carrying a thermally operated switch.

4. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising four metallic plate members, the second and third plate members being disposed in the same plane and spaced from the first plate member by an insulating plate, and a second insulating plate member disposed between the second metallic plate member and the fourth metallic plate member, the said plate members being secured fiat against each other and carrying a thermally operated switch, the first metallic plate and the first mentioned insulating plate member being provided with registering openings, and said thermally operated switch comprising a vane member carried by the first metallic plate member in bridging relation to the opening formed therein and a cooperating contact member carried by the second metallic plate member.

5. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising four metallic plate members, the second and third plate members being disposed in the same plane and spaced from the first plate member by an insulating plate, and a second insulating plate member disposed between the second metallic plate member and the fourth metallic plate member, the said plate members being secured fiat against each other and carrying a I said thermally operated switch comprising a vane member carried by the first metallic plate member in bridging relation to the opening formed therein, a cooperating contact member carried by the second metallic plate member, and an expansible wire mechanically fastened to said vane but insulated therefrom, said wire being also mechanically fastened to the third metallic plate.

6. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising four metallic plate members, the second and third plate members being disposed in the same plane and spaced from the first plate member by an insulating plate, and a second insulating plate member disposed between the second metallic plate member and the fourth metallic plate member, the said plate members being secured fiat against each other and carrying a thermally operated switch, the metallic plate members being provided with integral terminals and said first named insulating plate being provided with a wire guiding means and the fourth metallic plate being provided with a lug for electrical connection with the wire.

which are folded under and hold the other plates tightly flat against each other.

8. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured flat against each other, one of said metallic plates carrying a, vane type switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, an expanslble wire mounted on one of said plates one of the plate members being provided with a bearing member and an adjustable rotary pin for the fasten-' ing and tightening of the expansible wire.

9. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured flat against each other, one of said metallic plates carrying a vane type switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, comprising a carton housing with covers having openings formed therein and said metallic plates being provided with terminals projecting through said openings of the covers and bent thereabout to hold the switch unit carton and covers in assembled relation.

10. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a metallic plate, an insulating plate, a second and third metallic plate, a second-insulating plate and a fourth metallic plate, all of said plates being secured flat against each other by means of lugs formed on the sides of said first named metallic plate and said first named insulating plate and folded and crimped there- "under, said metallic plate members having terminals projecting therefrom, said first named plate carrying a thermostatically operated vane switch member, said second named plate carrying a cooperating switch contact in the form of an adjustable tongue struck therefrom, said third named metallic plate having a notch formed adjacent said tongue for accommodating the same and also having a bearing member and an adjustable pin member for an expansible wire, said first named insulating plate having a notch for accommodating said bearing member and spacing the same from the first named metallic plate, and said fourth metallic plate having a lug forming a means for electrically attaching an expansible wire to said plate, said first named insulating plate having an elongated lug disposed between the first named metallic plate and said lug formed on the fourth metallic plate.

11. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a plurality of metallic and insulated plate members, two of said metallic plate members being disposed in the same plane and spaced from other of said metallic members by said insulated plate members, means carried by certain of said plate members for holding all the plate members flat against each other and a thermally operated switch carried by said plate members.

12. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured flat against each otha', one of said metallic plates carrying a vane type switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, the top plate being provided with lugs which are folded under the bottom plate to hold the assembly tightly together.

13. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured flat against each other, one of said metallic plates carrying a vane type switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, and lectrical means for controlling said vane switch, said metallic plates being provided with an integrally formed terminal member, and said terminal members forming electrical connections for said vane type switch and for said electrical means.

14. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured flat against each other, one of said metallic plates carrying a vane type switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, and electrical means for controlling said vane switch, there being four metallic plates and each having an integrally formed terminal member two of said terminals forming electrical connections for said vane switch and two electrical connections for said electrical means.

15. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured fiat against each other, one of said metallic plates carrying a vane type switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, an expansible wire operatively connected with said vane switch, and one of said insulating plates having a wire guiding lug integrally formed thereon.

16. A switch unit .of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured flat against each other, one of said metallic plates carrying a vane type 49 switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, one of said insulating plates having side folded under parts to insulate similar side folded parts formed on a metallic plate.

17,. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a series of alternating metallic and insulated plates secured flat against each other, one of said metallic plates carrying a. vane type switch member and another of said metallic plates carrying a contact member for cooperation with said vane member, the top plate being provided with lugs which are folded under the bottom plate to hold the assembly tightly together and the top insulating plate being provided with folded under parts to insulate the lugs from the plate immediately thereabove.

18. A switch unit of the character set forth comprising a plurality of metallic and insulated plate members, two of said metallic plate members being disposed in the same plane and spaced from other of said metallic members by said insulated plate members, means carried by certain of said plate members for holding all the plate members flat against each other and a thermally operated switch carried by said plate members, said thermally operated switch comprising a vane and an expansible wire operatively connected with said vane and fixedly connected with one of said plates. l

JOSEPH SCHMIDINGER. 

